Benedetti’s Presence in the Colombian Government is a Risk: Minister Muhamad
President Gustavo Petro (L) and Armando Benedetti (R). X/ @Jorgomezpinilla
February 11, 2025 Hour: 1:00 pm
His political career began in the ‘Party of the U’ that collaborated with both far-right President Uribe and President Santos.
In the past week, Colombia has been experiencing a crisis within President Gustavo Petro’s cabinet, as several ministers have resigned in protest against the appointment of former ambassador Armando Benedetti as Chief of Staff.
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Susana Muhamad, who announced her resignation as Minister of Environment, argues that Benedetti’s presence in the cabinet undermines Colombia’s institutional integrity, given that he is currently facing multiple corruption investigations.
“The arrival of Armando Benedetti is a political empowerment process that poses many risks, both to the defense of public interests and to the integrity of the government. It also represents political positioning in relation to gender-based violence,” she said, referring to Benedetti, who previously served as Colombia’s ambassador to Venezuela and as ambassador to the FAO in Rome.
Armando Benedetti, 57, has been a key figure in Colombian politics for the past two decades. His career began in the Party of the U, a political group that collaborated with far-right former President Alvaro Uribe and right-wing President Juan Manuel Santos.
During that time, Benedetti supported Uribe’s security policies and later took part in the peace negotiations promoted by Santos with the guerrilla group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
Benedetti’s shift in political stance and his alignment with progressive organizations have raised suspicions among some left-wing sectors, which view him as a political operator with fluctuating loyalties. His ties with Petro strengthened during the 2022 presidential campaign, in which Benedetti played a key role in the electoral strategy. He was later appointed ambassador to Venezuela. However, his tenure was not without controversy.
In 2023, leaked audio recordings revealed threats directed at Colombian government officials, in which Benedetti hinted that he possessed compromising information about the financing of Petro’s campaign. This incident weakened his relationship with Petro and led to his removal as ambassador.
In addition to being investigated for alleged irregularities in Petro’s campaign financing, Benedetti has been accused of gender-based violence and has publicly admitted to struggling with cocaine addiction.
teleSUR/ JF Source: EFE
